Copeland signs short Northants deal

Northants have signed Australian seam bowler Trent Copeland on a short-term deal for the first half of the season.

Copeland, 26, will join the county for the first County Championship match of the season against Glamorgan on April 10 and play seven Championship matches and six Yorkshire Bank 40 League matches.

He will return to Sydney on June 8 before Cameron White arrives for the Friends Life t20, which begins on June 26.

Copeland has taken 131 first-class wickets at 26.12 and made his Test debut for Australia in Galle in September 2011. He played all three Tests of the tour but after six wickets at 37.83 he was dropped and hasn't played a Test since.

But he remains a talented bowler that should enjoy early-season English conditions. He also recently showed some ability with the bat, making 106 against Tasmania in Hobart in his last first-class match.

"We are delighted to welcome Trent to Northants," Northants Cricket head coach David Ripley said. "It's not been a straightforward journey but he was the first player we approached in October about becoming our overseas bowler for the first part of the season and with a few twists and turns he is now coming.

"Everybody I have spoken to about Trent - Michael Hussey, Cameron White and Matt Nicholson to name three, have been consistent with their opinion - skilful, accurate, long spells, should be perfectly suited to early-season conditions in England and a top bloke.

"He has a first rate record in Australian state cricket and we are looking forward to him shaping our season in the two months he is with us. It hasn't gone unnoticed that he has just scored his maiden first class century too."